AFP extension
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
The bodies of 28 people killed, including an unknown number of children, have been found in northwest Burkina Faso. This was announced by the government of the West African country. The government says it is investigating those responsible and the motives for the killing.
The local human rights group CISC, which defends victims of ethnic conflicts, reports that the massacre was perpetrated by an armed militia affiliated with Burkistan’s military regime. The members allegedly attacked the inhabitants of the village of Nouna because they are considered sympathizers of the jihadists who have been devastating the region for years.
Nouna is mainly inhabited by members of the Muslim Fulani herdsmen. Members of this ethnic group are more often mistaken for allies of extremist Islamic groups, and are therefore regularly victims of the Burkinabé army’s counter-terrorism approach. Many Fulani fear both the jihadists and the government army and associated militias.
‘retaliation’
“They really only attacked the fit or influential people and healthy members of the community,” said CISC human rights activist Daouda Diallo. He said the Nouna massacre was in retaliation for an attack by jihadists on civilian militia.
The Burchinese Public Prosecutor calls on the population to remain calm while the government investigates the murders. The prosecutor expects several people to be arrested for “acts of unprecedented gravity”.
Burkina Faso has been struggling for years with extremist groups that maintain ties to terrorist movements such as al-Qaeda and IS. Millions of people have fled the violence and thousands have been killed.
Junta leader Traoré’s government has yet to respond substantially to the allegations against the militias. However, he praised the patriotism of these citizens in this week’s New Year’s speech.
